NL: ST LOUIS (64-65) at HOUSTON (59-74) <h3>Cardinals turn to Pineiro in rubber match vs. Astros</h3> <div class="pre">St. Louis (64-65) at Houston (59-74) 2:05 pm EDT</div> HOUSTON (Ticker) - After running into a buzzsaw known as RoyOswalt on Wednesday, the St. Louis Cardinals look to continuetheir late-season surge as they wrap up their three-game serieswith the Houston Astros on Thursday. St. Louis missed out on a chance to move within one game of thefirst-place Chicago Cubs (67-64) in the National League Centralon Wednesday as Oswalt blanked them, 7-0. The setback halted the Cardinals' rapid ascension in thedivision standings, as they have trimmed a nine-game deficitfrom July 27 down to two games by going 18-12 over their last 30contests. St. Louis on Thursday will turn to Joel Pineiro (3-1, 3.86 ERA),who is unbeaten in his last four starts. Over that stretch, heis 3-0 with a 3.13 ERA. That span was capped off by his worst start in that time, asPineiro surrendered three runs and seven hits over just fourinnings but did not factor into Saturday's 5-4 win over theAtlanta Braves. Overall, the righthander is 1-1 with a 2.40 ERA in two careerstarts against the Astros. Houston will turn to rookie Matt Albers (3-6, 5.71), who looksto repeat the success he enjoyed when he faced St. Louis on May5 - his only career appearance against them. He yielded threehits and walked just one batter in 7 1/3 innings in a 13-0 win. The righthander did not receive a decision in Friday's 8-3 lossto the Pittsburgh Pirates, allowing two runs - one earned - andsix hits with six strikeouts over seven frames.
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">ST LOUIS AT HOUSTON -- LINEUPS ST LOUIS HOUSTON AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI David Eckstein SS .290 2 24 Hunter Pence CF .323 12 47 So Taguchi CF .294 2 21 Chris Burke 2B .225 4 21 Albert Pujols 1B .321 30 84 Lance Berkman 1B .278 25 84 Juan Encarnacion RF .286 9 47 Carlos Lee LF .306 26 103 Ryan Ludwick LF .249 11 37 Mike Lamb 3B .293 11 38 Yadier Molina C .279 4 30 Luke Scott RF .255 15 57 Aaron Miles 2B .301 1 24 Eric Bruntlett SS .244 0 12 Joel Pineiro RHP .000 0 0 Eric Munson C .257 4 15 (3-1, 3.86) Matt Albers RHP .105 0 0 Brendan Ryan 3B .317 4 10 (3-6, 5.71)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">ST LOUIS AT HOUSTON -- REVISED LINEUPS ST LOUIS HOUSTON AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI David Eckstein SS .290 2 24 Hunter Pence CF .323 12 47 Rick Ankiel CF .321 4 10 Chris Burke 2B .225 4 21 Albert Pujols 1B .321 30 84 Lance Berkman 1B .278 25 84 Juan Encarnacion RF .286 9 47 Carlos Lee LF .306 26 103 Ryan Ludwick LF .249 11 37 Mike Lamb 3B .293 11 38 Yadier Molina C .279 4 30 Luke Scott RF .255 15 57 Aaron Miles 2B .301 1 24 Eric Bruntlett SS .244 0 12 Joel Pineiro RHP .000 0 0 Eric Munson C .257 4 15 (3-1, 3.86) Matt Albers RHP .105 0 0 Brendan Ryan 3B .317 4 10 (3-6, 5.71)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON WARMUPS: STL - JOEL PINEIRO (3-1, 3.86) HOU - MATT ALBERS (3-6, 5.71) UMPIRES: HP - JIM JOYCE 1B - JIM WOLF 2B - JAMES HOYE 3B - TIM TSCHIDA WEATHER: INDOORS</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON -- REVISED WARMUPS WARMUPS: STL - JOEL PINEIRO (3-1, 3.86) HOU - MATT ALBERS (3-6, 5.71) UMPIRES: HP - JIM JOYCE 1B - JIM WOLF 2B - JAMES HOYE 3B - TIM TSCHIDA WEATHER: INDOORS</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON STARTING BATS: STL - JOEL PINEIRO AND YADIER MOLINA HOU - MATT ALBERS AND ERIC MUNSON DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: D ECKSTEIN (.290, 2 HR, 24 RBI) R ANKIEL (.321, 4 HR, 10 RBI) A PUJOLS (.321, 30 HR, 84 RBI)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ST LOUIS 0 0 1 0 HOUSTON 0 0 0 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - JOEL PINEIRO HOU - MATT ALBERS DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: H PENCE (.323, 12 HR, 47 RBI) C BURKE (.225, 4 HR, 21 RBI) L BERKMAN (.278, 25 HR, 84 RBI)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">ST LOUIS (0) VS HOUSTON (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Eckstein ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .292 R Ankiel cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .315 A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .321 J Encarnacion rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .285 R Ludwick lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249 Y Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279 A Miles 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301 J Pineiro p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 B Ryan 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .317 Totals 4 0 1 0 0 1 3 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Encarnacion 1. Team LOB - 1. HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg H Pence cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .323 C Burke 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .225 L Berkman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278 C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306 M Lamb 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293 L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255 E Bruntlett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244 E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257 M Albers p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .105 Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS - 0 -- 0 HOUSTON - -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era J Pineiro 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.86 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era M Albers 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 5.64 WP - M Albers. Pitches-strikes: M Albers 15-10. Ground balls-fly balls: M Albers 0-2. Batters faced: M Albers 4. UMPIRES: HP--Jim Joyce. 1B--Jim Wolf. 2B--James Hoye. 3B--Tim Tschida. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON CONFIRMED STARTERS: STL - JOEL PINEIRO HOU - MATT ALBERS</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ST LOUIS 0 0 1 0 HOUSTON 0 0 1 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - JOEL PINEIRO HOU - MATT ALBERS DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: R LUDWICK (.249, 11 HR, 37 RBI) Y MOLINA (.279, 4 HR, 30 RBI) A MILES (.301, 1 HR, 24 RBI)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">ST LOUIS (0) VS HOUSTON (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Eckstein ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .292 R Ankiel cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .315 A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .321 J Encarnacion rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .285 R Ludwick lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249 Y Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279 A Miles 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301 J Pineiro p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 B Ryan 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .317 Totals 4 0 1 0 0 1 3 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Encarnacion 1. Team LOB - 1. HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .322 C Burke 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .229 L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .277 C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306 M Lamb 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293 L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255 E Bruntlett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244 E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257 M Albers p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .105 Totals 3 0 1 0 0 1 1 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. BASERUNNING: CS - C Burke (3, 2nd base by J Pineiro/Y Molina). ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS - 0 -- 0 HOUSTON - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era J Pineiro 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.72 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era M Albers 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 5.64 WP - M Albers. Pitches-strikes: J Pineiro 14-10; M Albers 15-10. Ground balls-fly balls: J Pineiro 0-1; M Albers 0-2. Batters faced: J Pineiro 3; M Albers 4. UMPIRES: HP--Jim Joyce. 1B--Jim Wolf. 2B--James Hoye. 3B--Tim Tschida. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ST LOUIS 0 0 0 1 0 HOUSTON 0 0 1 0 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - JOEL PINEIRO HOU - MATT ALBERS DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C LEE (.306, 0-FOR-0) M LAMB (.293, 11 HR, 38 RBI) L SCOTT (.255, 15 HR, 57 RBI)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">ST LOUIS (0) VS HOUSTON (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Eckstein ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .292 R Ankiel cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .315 A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .321 J Encarnacion rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .285 R Ludwick lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248 Y Molina c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278 A Miles 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300 J Pineiro p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 B Ryan 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .317 Totals 7 0 1 0 0 1 3 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Encarnacion 1. Team LOB - 1. HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .322 C Burke 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .229 L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .277 C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306 M Lamb 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293 L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255 E Bruntlett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244 E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257 M Albers p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .105 Totals 3 0 1 0 0 1 1 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. BASERUNNING: CS - C Burke (3, 2nd base by J Pineiro/Y Molina). ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS - 00 -- 0 HOUSTON - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era J Pineiro 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.72 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era M Albers 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 5.57 WP - M Albers. Pitches-strikes: J Pineiro 14-10; M Albers 24-17. Ground balls-fly balls: J Pineiro 0-1; M Albers 2-3. Batters faced: J Pineiro 3; M Albers 7. UMPIRES: HP--Jim Joyce. 1B--Jim Wolf. 2B--James Hoye. 3B--Tim Tschida. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE DOUBLE BY LUKE SCOTT SCORED MIKE LAMB. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, NONE ON, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 0 HOUSTON 1 BOTTOM, 2ND DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: E BRUNTLETT (.244, 0 HR, 12 RBI)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ST LOUIS 0 0 0 1 0 HOUSTON 0 1 1 2 0 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - JOEL PINEIRO HOU - MATT ALBERS DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: J PINEIRO (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI) B RYAN (.317, 4 HR, 10 RBI) D ECKSTEIN (.292, 1-FOR-1)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">ST LOUIS (0) VS HOUSTON (1) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Eckstein ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .292 R Ankiel cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .315 A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .321 J Encarnacion rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .285 R Ludwick lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248 Y Molina c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278 A Miles 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300 J Pineiro p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 B Ryan 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .317 Totals 7 0 1 0 0 1 3 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Encarnacion 1. Team LOB - 1. HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .322 C Burke 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .229 L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .277 C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306 M Lamb 3b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .293 L Scott rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .257 E Bruntlett ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242 E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257 M Albers p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .105 Totals 6 1 2 1 1 1 1 BATTING: 2B - L Scott (25, J Pineiro). RBI - L Scott (58). Team LOB - 0. BASERUNNING: CS - C Burke (3, 2nd base by J Pineiro/Y Molina). ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS - 00 -- 0 HOUSTON - 01 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era J Pineiro 2 2 1 1 1 1 0 3.90 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era M Albers 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 5.57 WP - M Albers. Pitches-strikes: J Pineiro 33-19; M Albers 24-17. Ground balls-fly balls: J Pineiro 2-1; M Albers 2-3. Batters faced: J Pineiro 7; M Albers 7. UMPIRES: HP--Jim Joyce. 1B--Jim Wolf. 2B--James Hoye. 3B--Tim Tschida. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE GROUND OUT BY DAVID ECKSTEIN SCORED JOEL PINEIRO. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, B RYAN ON THIRD, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: ST LOUIS 1 HOUSTON 1 TOP, 3RD DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: R ANKIEL (.315, 0-FOR-1)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ST LOUIS 0 0 1 1 3 0 HOUSTON 0 1 1 2 0 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - JOEL PINEIRO HOU - MATT ALBERS DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: E MUNSON (.257, 4 HR, 15 RBI) M ALBERS (.105, 0 HR, 0 RBI) H PENCE (.322, 0-FOR-1)</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">ST LOUIS (1) VS HOUSTON (1) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Eckstein ss 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .292 R Ankiel cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .309 A Pujols 1b 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 .321 J Encarnacion rf 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 .284 R Ludwick lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248 Y Molina c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278 A Miles 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300 J Pineiro p 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .111 B Ryan 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .324 Totals 12 1 3 1 1 1 6 BATTING: 2B - B Ryan (5, M Albers). RBI - D Eckstein (25). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Encarnacion 2. Team LOB - 3. HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .322 C Burke 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .229 L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .277 C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306 M Lamb 3b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .293 L Scott rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .257 E Bruntlett ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242 E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257 M Albers p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .105 Totals 6 1 2 1 1 1 1 BATTING: 2B - L Scott (25, J Pineiro). RBI - L Scott (58). Team LOB - 0. BASERUNNING: CS - C Burke (3, 2nd base by J Pineiro/Y Molina). ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS - 001 -- 1 HOUSTON - 01 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era J Pineiro 2 2 1 1 1 1 0 3.90 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era M Albers 3 3 1 1 1 1 0 5.62 WP - M Albers. IBB - A Pujols (by M Albers). Pitches-strikes: J Pineiro 33-19; M Albers 41-25. Ground balls-fly balls: J Pineiro 2-1; M Albers 4-4. Batters faced: J Pineiro 7; M Albers 13. UMPIRES: HP--Jim Joyce. 1B--Jim Wolf. 2B--James Hoye. 3B--Tim Tschida. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
NL: ST LOUIS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ST LOUIS 0 0 1 1 3 0 HOUSTON 0 1 0 1 3 0 (TOP 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: STL - JOEL PINEIRO HOU - MATT ALBERS DUE UP FOR ST LOUIS: R LUDWICK (.248, 0-FOR-1) Y MOLINA (.278, 0-FOR-1) A MILES (.300, 0-FOR-1)</div>
